Protector for electric circuit

ABSTRACT

A mounting, for a front-mounted fuseholder, has a generallyannular body portion which permits the front portion of that front-mounted fuseholder to be telescoped rearwardly into it, and also has inwardly-extending lips that can be spread apart as that front portion is telescoped rearwardly into that generallyannular body portion but that subsequently move toward each other to hold that front portion within that generally-annular body portion. Thereafter, that mounting and that front-mounted fuseholder can be telescoped forwardly, from a point rearwardly of a panel, into position within an opening in that panel. That mounting has fingers that are bendable to permit that mounting to be moved forwardly into position within that opening but that subsequently prevent accidental movement of that mounting rearwardly of that panel.

United States Patent [191 Urani [451 Aug. 6, 1974 PROTECTOR FOR ELECTRICCIRCUIT [75] Inventor: Angelo Urani, St. Louis, Md.

[73] Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, Ill 1 June 14, 1973 22Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 370,148

[52] US. Cl 337/201, 200/168 C, 337/207 [51] Int. Cl. H01h 85/02 [58]Field of Search 200/168 C; 337/201, 207; 339/125 R [56] References CitedUNITED STATESPATENTS 2,207,837 7/1940 Sundt 337/201 X 3,213,189 10/1965Mitchell et a1 200/168 C X 3,236,974 2/1966 Louden et a1 337/201 XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 442,494 1/1968 Switzerland 337/201Primary Examiner-.1. D. Miller Assistant Examiner-Fred E. Bell [57]ABSTRACT A mounting, for a front-mounted fuseholder, has agenerally-annular body portion which permits the front portion of thatfront-mounted fuseholder to be telescoped rearwardly into it, and alsohas inwardlyextending lips that can be spread apart as that frontportion is telescoped rearwardly into that generallyannular body portionbut that subsequently move toward each other to hold that front portionwithin that generally-annular body portion. Thereafter, that mountingand that front-mounted fuseholder can be telescoped forwardly, from apoint rearwardly of a panel, into position within an opening in thatpanel. That mounting has fingers that are bendable to permit thatmounting to be moved forwardly into position within that opening butthat subsequently prevent accidental movement of that mountingrearwardly of that panel.

19 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PROTECTOR FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUIT FIELD OFTHE INVENTION Panel-mounted fuseholders usually are made so the frontportions thereof are disposable forwardly of the openings of the panelsin which those fuseholders are mounted, and so the rear portions thereofare disposable rearwardly of those openings. Because the bayonet jointsor other securing joints, which releasably hold the fuse carriers inposition within the fuseholders, are located in the front portions ofthose fuseholders, those front portions usually are larger in thetransverse direction than are the rear portions of those fuseholders.Consequently, panel-mounted fuseholders customarily are moved rearwardlyinto position within openings in panels from points located forwardly ofthose panels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Many prior panel-mounted fuseholders havebeen provided with rear portions that were dimensioned to telescoperearwardly through openings in panels, and also were provided withlarger transverse dimension front portions. Those prior panel-mountedfuseholders have had the rear portions thereof telescoped rearwardlythrough openings in panels until the rear surfaces of the front portionsthereof abutted the front surfaces of those panels; and then conductorswere connected to electric terminals on those rear portions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The mounting provided by the present inventionhas a front portion, which can accommodate the front portion of afront-mounted fuseholder, and which can be telescoped forwardly, from apoint located rearwardly of a panel, into an opening within that panel.That mounting makes it possible to incorporate the frontmountedfuseholder into a wiring harness, which is intended to be disposedrearwardly of the panel, before that front-mounted fuseholder isassembled with that panel. As a result, the mounting of the presentinvention makes it possible to assemble a front-mounted fuseholder witha wiring harness more quickly and with less cost than such a fuseholdercould be assembled with such a harness after that front-mountedfuseholder had been assembled with a panel. Once that frontmountedfuseholder has been suitably assembled with the wiring harness, thefront portion of the mounting for that fuseholder can be telescopedforwardly, from a point located rearwardly of that panel, into anopening within that panel. Resilient fingers on that mounting will yieldto permit the front portion of that mounting to be telescoped throughthat opening; but thereafter those fingers will coact with theopening-defining portions of the panel to prevent accidental separationof that mounting and of that front-mounted fuseholder from that panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a frontelevational view of the fuse carrier of a front-mounted fuseholder, ofthe front portion of a mounting for that front-mounted fuseholder, andof part of a panel in which that mounting is held.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the front-mounted fuseholder, themounting and the panel of FIG. 1, and

2 it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 22 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the fuse carrier and the rearportion of the front-mounted fuseholder and of the mounting of FIG. 1and is a secional view through the panel of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a partially-sectioned plan view of the frontmounted fuseholderand of the mounting of FIG. I, and it is taken along the plane indicatedby the line 4-4 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, at right angles to the sectional view ofFIG. 4 through the female part of the front-mounted fuseholder of FIG.1,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the mounting of FIG. 1, and it istaken along the plane indicated by the line 22 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through the female part of the front-mountedfuseholder of FIG. 1 and through the fuse of FIG. 2, and it is takenalong the plane indicated by the line 77 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, through the female partof the front-mounted fuseholder of FIG. 1, and it is taken along theplane indicated by the line 8--8 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 1, through themounting, the front-mounted fuseholder, and the fuse of FIG. 2, and itis taken along the plane indicated by the line 9-9 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the mounting and of the femalepart of the front-mounted fuseholder of FIG. 1, and it is taken alongthe plane indicated by the line 10-10 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the mounting of FIG. 1, and it istaken along the plane indicated by the line 1010 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of the mounting of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 13 is a sectional view through the mounting of FIG. 1, and it istaken along the plane indicated by the line 13-13 in FIG. 12.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing indetail, the numeral 20 denotes a panel which has an opening 22 thereinthat is intended to accommodate a front-mounted fuseholder. As shownparticularly by FIG. 9, the opening 22 has an arcuate upper portion, anarcuate lower portion and straight sides. The opening 22 can, ifdesired, be the only opening in the panel 20, or it can be just one of alarge number of identical openings in that panel. The panel can be partof a vehicle or can be part of a housing for, or which is part of, apiece of equipment.

The numeral 24 generally denotes the female part of a front-mountedfuseholder of standard and usual design. Although many differentfront-mounted fuseholders of standard and usual design could besupported and held by the mounting provided by the present invention,the front-mounted fuseholder which is shown in the drawing is an HTA l5ampere 250 volt frontmounted fuseholder manufactured by the BussmannMfg. Division of the McGraw-Edison Company, assignee of thisapplication. The female part 24 has an externally-threaded annularportion 26 that has one plane side 28, as indicated particularly byFIGS. 4 and 7. The female part 24 has a reduced-diameter portion 30 ofannular form which is contiguous to, and which extends rearwardly from,the externally-threaded annular portion 26; and it has an elongated,generallycylindrical recess therein with four elongated, shallow guidingsurfaces. Also, that female part has a largediameter front portion 32 ofannular form which is contiguous to, and which extends forwardly fromthat externally-threaded annular portion. A chamfer 33 is provided onthe rear edge of that large-diameter front portion.

A rivet-like contact 34 secures a plate-like electric terminal 36 inposition at the rear of the female part 24. As shown by FIG. 2, anannular ridge 35 projects forwardly of the front surface of that rivetto define a shallow central recess. A split-annulus electric contact 38is disposed within the largediameter front portion 32; and that splitannulus electric contact has a locking projection 37 which is shown inFIG. and which extends into a complementary recess in the female part24, and it also has an elongated tang 39 which extends into an elongatedcomplementary groove within the externally-threaded annular portion 26.An annular electric terminal 40 surrounds the reduced-diameter rearportion 30 and is connected to the rear end of the tang 39 of thesplit-annulus electric contact 38, as shown particularly by FIGS. 2 and5. A tang 42 extends rearwardly from the annular electric terminal 40.

The numeral 44 denotes a cup-like contact of the fuse carrier 45 of thefront-mounted fuseholder; and ears 46 project radially outwardly fromthe free edge of that cup-like contact. A knob 48 of insulating materialis fixedly secured to the closed end of the cup-like contact 44, as bymolding that knob onto that cup-like contact. The numeral 50 denotes ahelical compression spring which is disposed within the cup-like contact44, as shown particularly by FIG. 2. The numeral 52 denotes aself-contained cartridge-type electric fuse which has a tubular casingof insulating material and which has ferrule-like terminals at theopposite ends of that casing.

The panel 20, the female part 24 of the frontmounted fuseholder, thefuse carrier 45 of that frontmounted fuseholder, and the self-containedcartridgetype electric fuse 52 are of standard and usual design, andthey are not, per se, parts of the present invention. Different panels,different front-mounted fuseholders, and different self-containedcartridge-type electric fuses could be used with the mounting providedby the present invention.

The numeral 54 generally denotes one preferred embodiment of mountingthat is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of thepresent invention; and that mounting has an annular portion 56. Asindicated particularly by FIG. 9, that annular portion has an arcuateupper part, an arcuate bottom part, and plano-concave sides 58. Asindicated particularly by FIG. 13, as well as by FIG. 9,axially-extending slots 66 are provided in the annular portion 56 of themounting 54 to define a finger 68. As shown by FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 12, thelower rear face of that finger has a number of steps 70 thereon; and, asindicated by FIG. 6, the front end of that'finger is thinner than theannular portion to define a step 63. As indicated by FIGS. 9 and 12,slots 60 also are provided in the annular portion 56 of the mounting 54to define a finger 62. As shown by FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 12, the upper rearface of that finger has a number of steps 64 thereon.

The numeral 72 denotes an arcuate lip which extends a short distanceradially inwardly of the forward end of the annular portion 56 of themounting 54, and that lip is generally in register with the finger 62.The numeral 74 denotes an arcuate lip which is similar to the lip 72,which extends a short distanceradially inwardly of the forward end ofthe annular portion 56 of the mounting 54, and which is generallyaligned withthe finger 68. The inner diameter of the annular portion 56is dimensioned to accommodate and confine the large diameter frontportion 32 of the female part 24 of the frontmounted fuseholder, asshown particularly by FIGS. 2, 4 and 9. The lips 72 and 74 confront eachother; and they normally coact to define a space which is smaller thanthe outer diameter of of the large-diameter front portion 32 of thefemale part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder but which is larger thanthe small diameter of the chamfer 33 on that large-diameter frontportion. That chamfer will coact with the lips 72 and 74 to stress theannular portion 56 of the mounting 54 sufficiently to permit thelarge-diameter front portion 32 of the female part 24 of thefront-mounted fuseholder to be moved between the confronting faces ofthose lips and then inwardly beyond those lips into position within thatannular portion.

The numeral 76 denotes a wall which is close to the rear of the mounting54; and, as shown particularly by FIG. 12, that wall consists of twospaced-apart portions that are essentially plano-convex in elevation andthat are interconnected at the tops and bottoms thereof by connectors 82and 84. An arcuate notch 78 is provided in the inner edge of one of thespaced-apart portions of the wall 76, while a chord-like notch 80 isprovided in the inner edge of the opposite of those spaced-apartportions. A shallow recess 81, which has the same radius as the notch78, is provided in the front face of that opposite of those spaced-apartportions of wall 76. As indicated particularly by FIGS. 4 and 13, thewall 76 has a rearwardly-offset, increased-thickness,outwardly-extending flange 86 thereon. The numeral 88 denotes awasher-like shim which is shown by dotted lines, which is dimensioned tofit within the annular portion 56 of the mounting 54, and which can abutthe front faces of the spaced-apart portions of the wall 76, as shownparticularly by FIGS. 4. That shim will not be used when the mounting 54is used to support an HTA fuseholder; but it will be used when thatmounting is used to support an HKP 3O ampere 250 volt frontmountedfuseholder manufactured by the Bussmann Mfg. Division, because the axialdimension of the largediameter front portion of the latter fuseholder isshorter than that of the former fuseholder.

Although the female part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder willpreferably be made from a rigid and substantially-non-yieldingthermosetting resin, the mounting 54 preferably will be made from aresilient thermo-plastic material. One such thermo-plastic material,that can be used in making the mounting 54, is nylon. As a result, theannular portion 56 of the mounting 54 will be sturdy enough andresilient enough to permit the chamfer 33 on the large-diameter frontportion 32 of the female part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder toforce the lips 72 and 74 far enough apart to permit that large-diameterfront portion to be passed between those lips and into position withinthat annular portion. A small press can be used to force thatlarge-diameter portion inwardly between those confronting faces and intoposition within the annular portion 56 of the mounting 54; and theinsertion of that large-diameter portion into position within thatannular portion will be done before the combination of mounting andfuseholder are packaged and shipped from the factory. As a result, theuser need only handle one component rather than two components. Wherethe externallythreaded portion 26 of the female part 24 is formedwithout the plane side 28, and where that plane side is subsequentlyformed by a grinding operation, the shallow-recess 81 will accommodatethe forward end of any part of that externally-threaded portion whichwas inadvertently not ground away.

The electric terminal 36 is dimensioned so it can readily be passedthrough the annular portion 56 as the reduced diameter rear portion 30,the externallythreaded annular portion 26 and the large-diameter frontportion 32 of the female part 24 of the frontmounted fuseholder aresuccessively telescoped through the front of the annular portion 56 ofthe mounting 54; If, as is the case with the HTA fuseholder, the axialdimension of the large-diameter front portion 32 is effectively the sameas the distance between the lip 72 and the wall 76 of the mounting 54,it will not be necessary to insert the washer-like shim 88. However if,as is the case with the HKP fuseholder, the axial length of thelarge-diameter portion 32 is appreciably shorter than the axial distancebetween the lip 72 and the wall 76 of the mounting 54, one or more ofthe washer-like shims 88 will be telescoped into position within theannular portion 56 of that mounting before the female part 24 of thatfront-mounted fuseholder is telescoped into position within that annularportion.

After the female part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder has beentelescoped into position within the annular portion 56 of the mounting54, that female part will be suitably incorporated into a wiring harnessas by having appropriate conductors of that wiring harness electricallyconnected to the electric terminal 36 and to the tang 42 of the electricterminal 40. Because the female part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholdercan be incorporated into that harness while that female part is remotefrom the panel 20, the assembler can have ample room to perform therequisite assembling operations.

After the female part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder has beenincorporated into the wiring harness, that wiring harness will bedisposed rearwardly of the panel 20, and the annular portion 56 of themounting will be set in register with the opening 22. At such time, theplane-concave sides 58 of that mounting will be alined with the planesides of that opening; and then that annular portion will be movedforwardly into that opening. Shortly after the front of the annularportion 56 is moved forwardly into the opening 22, the outer surfaces ofthe fingers 62 and 68 will engage the arouate upper and lower portionsof that opening. However, because the outer surfaces of those fingersincline outwardly, at very shallow angles, to the axis of that mounting,those outer surfaces will act as inclined planes; and thus will readilycause those fingers to bend inwardly toward the axis of that mounting asthe annular portion 56 of that mounting is moved further and furtherinwardly of the opening 22. As various of the steps 64 and 70 on thefingers 62 and 68, respectively, are moved forwardly of the forward faceof the panel 20, the resilience of the material of the mounting 54 willcause those fingers to move outwardly toward their original un-stressedpositions thereby moving those steps into position to block rearwardmovement of that mounting relative to that panel. The mounting 54 willbe moved forwardly relative to the opening 22 in the panel 20 until theforward face of the annular flange 86 abuts the rear face of that panel.At such time, that annular flange will prevent movement of the mounting54 forwardly relative to the panel 20, and the steps 64 and will preventrearward movement of that mounting relative to that panel. Consequently,the mounting 54 will be held solidly in position relative to the panel20, and thus will be able to hold the female part 24 of thefront-mounted fuseholder solidly in position relative to that panel. Theprovision of a number of steps 64 and the provision of an equal numberof steps 70 enable the mounting 54 to be disposed within openings inpanels that range in thickness from twenty-five thousandths toeighty-five thousandths of an inch.

No tools are needed to dispose the mounting 54 in position within theopening 22 in the panel 20. Instead, the assembler need only align thefront of the annular portion 56 of that mounting with the opening 22,and then push that annular portion forwardly through that opening untilthe front face of the annular flange 86 abuts the rear face of thatpanel. The fingers 62 and 68 will automatically respond to the forwardmovement of the annular portion 56 of the mounting 54 to bend far enoughinwardly to permit that annular portion to pass through the opening 22,and then will automatically move outwardly to dispose the steps 64 and70 in position to block rearward movement of that mounting relative tothat panel. This means that the female part 24 of the front-mountedfuseholder can be incorporated into a wiring harness while thatfront-mounted fuseholder is remote from the panel 20; and then thatfrontmounted fuseholder, and the other front-mounted fuseholders whichhave been incorporated into that wiring harness, can readily betelescoped into position within appropriate openings in the panel 20.The fuse carrier 45 will usually be assembled with the female part 24 ofthe front-mounted fuseholder before the mounting 54 is telescoped intoits position within the opening 22 in the panel 20. However, if desired,that fuse carrier can be assembled with that female part after themounting 54 has been set in position within the opening 22.

Not only does the mounting 54 of the present invention make it possibleto pass the female part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder forwardly,from a point at the rear of the panel 20, through the opening 22 in thatpanel, but it also increases the effective tracking distance between theelectric terminal 40 and that panel. This means that if it should everbecome desirable to do so, it would be possible to dispose the electricterminal 40 closer to the large-diameter front portion 32 of the femalepart 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder.

The engagements between the straight sides of the opening 22 and theplane outer faces of the planoconcave sides 58 of the annular portion 56of the mounting 54 prevent appreciable rotation of that mountingrelative to that panel. The engagement between the plane side 28 of theexternally-threaded annular portion 26 of the female part 24 and thechordlike notch in one side of the wall 76 of the mounting 54 preventsappreciable rotation of the female part 24 relative to that mounting. Asa result, that female part will be held against appreciable rotationrelative to the panel 20. This means that the ears 46 on the cup-likecontact 44 of the fuse carrier 45 can readily be rotated relative to thesplit-annulus electric contact 38 within the female part 24 of thefront-mounted fuseholder without causing that female part to rotaterelative to the panel 20. Those ears and that split-annulus electriccontact constitute a bayonet joint which selectively holds the fusecarrier 45 in assembled relation with the female part 24 of thefront-mounted fuseholder.

The provision of two straight sides for the opening 22 in the panel 20,and the provision of two piano-concave sides 58 for the annular portion56 of the mounting 54, make it possible for the female part 24 of thefrontmounted fuseholder to be disposed within that opening in normalposition or in inverted position. This is desirable, because it enablesthat female part to be disposed within the opening 22 in the panel 20whether that female part is wired into a wiring harness in normalposition or in inverted position.

The mounting 54 can be made in different sizes; but, in the preferredembodiment of the present invention which is dimensioned to accommodatethe said l-lTA l ampere 250 volt fuseholder, the outer diameter of theannular portion 56 is approximately seven-eighths of an inch and theaxial length of that annular portion is approximately three-eighths ofan inch. This means that the portion of the mounting 54 which extendsforwardly of the panel is just slightly larger than the large-diameterportion 32 of the female part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder.

The use of the mounting 54 to hold the female part 24 of thefront-mounted fuseholder within the opening 22 makes it possible tofabricate that fuseholder of one type of insulating material and tofabricate that mounting of a different type of insulating material. Thatmounting preferably will be made from a tough, shockresistant material;because such a material makes the combination of fuseholder and mountingstrongly resistant to shearing forces which could develop iftransversely-directed blows were applied to the forwardlyextendingportion of that combination. The use of the mounting 54 to hold thefemale part 24 of the frontmounted fuseholder within the opening 22 alsoincreases the total outer surface area, within the opening 22 in thepanel 20, which is available to distribute and absorb any shearingforces which could develop if transversely-directed blows were appliedto the forwardly-extending portion of that mounting.-Additionally thetotal cross section of the mounting 54 which is in register with thepanel 20 is larger than the total cross section of the portion of thefemale part 24 of the front-mounted fuseholder which is in register withthat panel. All of this means that the use of the mounting 54 to holdthe female part 24 provides a three faceted increase in resistance toshearing forces: (1) that mounting is made of tougher, moreshock-resistant material, (2) that mounting has a larger outer surfacearea to distribute and absorb shearing forces, and (3) that mounting hasa larger cross section and thus has a greater mass to resist shearingforces.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes can be made inthe form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A mounting, which can accommodate a frontmounted fuseholder and whichcan be telescoped forwardly into an opening in a panel from a pointrearwardly of said panel, that comprises a generallyannular body portionwhich is dimensioned to accommodate the forward portion of saidfront-mounted fuseholder, locking means on said mounting which willpermit said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder to betelescoped rearwarldy into said generallyannular body portion from apoint forwardly of said mounting but which will thereafter resistseparation of said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder fromsaid generally-annular body portion, a resilient portion that isdisposable in register with a part of said panel which helps define saidopening, said resilient portion being bendable inwardly relative to saidopening to enable said resilient portion to pass into said opening, aflange that is disposable in register with a part of said panel whichhelps define said opening, said flange being disposable rearwardly ofsaid panel to limit movement of said mounting forwardly relative to saidpanel, a surface on said mounting which can coact with a complementarysurface on said panel to prevent rotation of said mounting relative tosaid panel, and a further surface on said mounting which can coact witha complementary surface on said front-mounted fuseholder to preventrotation of said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholderrelative to said mounting.

2. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein a wall is spaced rearwardlyof said locking means, and wherein said wall limits movement of saidforward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder rearwardly relative tosaid mounting.

3. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein a wall limits movement ofsaid forward portion of said frontmounted fuseholder rearwardly relativeto said mounting, whereby said locking means and said wall coact toprevent shifting of said forward portion of said frontmounted fuseholderforwardly or rearwardly relative to said mounting.

4. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein a wall limits movement ofsaid forward portion of said frontmounted fuseholder rearwardly relativeto said mounting, and wherein said further surface is on said wall.

5. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein a wall has an openingtherein to accommodate a rearwardlyextending portion of saidfront-mounted fuseholder, and wherein said wall limits movement of saidforward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder rearwardly relative tosaid mounting.

6. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generally-annular bodyportion is bendable to permit said locking means to move out of the pathof said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder as said forwardportion of said front-mounted fuseholder is telescoped rearwardly intosaid generally-annular body portion from a point forwardly of saidmounting.

7. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking means includesan inwardly-extending lip on said generally-annular body portion.

8. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient portion is afinger that is part of, but that extends outwardly of, saidgenerally-annular body portion.

9. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient portion is afinger that is part of, but that extends outwardly of, saidgenerally-annular body portion, and

wherein the outer surface of said finger acts as an inclined plane whilesaid finger is being passed into said opening.

10. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient portion is afinger that is part of, but that extends outwardly of, saidgenerally-annular body portion, and wherein said generally-annular bodyportion has slots at each side of said finger.

11. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking means isadjacent the front of said generallyannular body portion, wherein saidflange is adjacent the rear of said generally-annular body portion, andwherein said resilient portion is intermediate said looking means andsaid flange.

12. A mounting, for a fuseholder which has a rear portion of limitedtransverse dimension and a front portion of larger transverse dimensionand which enables said front portion of said fuseholder to be passedforwardly through an opening in a panel and to be held securely inassembled relation with, but forwardly of, said panel, that comprises anessentially-annular body portion having a generally-transverse wall withan opening therein dimensioned to accommodate said rear portion of saidfuseholder but to prevent the passage therethrough of said front portionof said fuseholder, a surface which is disposed forwardly of saidgenerallytransverse wall and which normally lies in the path of saidfront portion of said fuseholder, said surface responding to pressures,which are applied to said fuseholder in a direction generally axially ofsaid essentially-annular body portion and which tend to force said frontportion of said fuseholder rearwardly past said surface toward saidgenerally-transverse wall, to permit said front portion of saidfuseholder to move past said surface and into engagement with saidgenerallytransverse wall, said surface thereupon automatically movingback into said path of said front portion of said fuseholder to resistaccidental separation of said fuseholder from said essentially-annularbody portion, said essentially-annular body having an outer surfacedimensioned to permit the front of said essentiallyannular body portionto be passed forwardly through said opening in said panel but having anoutwardlyextending projection adjacent the rear thereof which extendsoutwardly beyond the periphery of said opening in said panel to limitmovement of said essentiallyannular body portion forwardly relative tosaid panel, and a locking means on said essentially-annular body portionwhich can be passed forwardly through said opening in said panel butwhich will thereafter resist movement thereof and of said front portionof said essentially-annular body portion rearwardly through said openingin said panel, said fuseholder being inserted into saidessentially-annular body portion by being telescoped through said frontportion of said essentially-annular body portion but said front portionof said essentially-annular body portion and said front portion of saidfuseholder being insertable through said opening in said panel by beingtelescoped forwardly through said opening in said panel from a pointrearwardly of said panel.

13. A mounting as claimed in claim 12 wherein said surface is aninwardly-extending lip, and wherein said essentially-annular bodyportion is bendable to permit said lip to move out of the path of saidfront portion of said fuseholder.

14. A mounting which can be telescoped forwardly into an opening in apanel from a point rearwardly of said panel and a front-mountedfuseholder which has a forward portion and a rear portion, said mountinghaving a generally-annular body portion and said forward portion of saidfront-mounted fuseholder being disposed within and held by saidgenerally-annular body portion, locking means on said mounting which wasmoved to permit said forward portion of said frontmounted fuseholder tobe telescoped rearwardly into said generally-annular body portion from apoint forwardly of said mounting but which resists separation of saidforward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder from saidgenerally-annular body portion, a resilient portion of said mountingthat is disposable in register with a part of said panel which helpsdefine said opening, said resilient portion being bendable inwardlyrelative to said opening to enable said resilient portion to pass intosaid opening, a flange on said mounting that is disposable in registerwith a part of said panel which helps define said opening, said flangebeing disposable rearwardly of said panel to limit movement of saidmounting forwardly relative to said panel, a surface on said mountingwhich can coact with a complementary surface on said panel to preventrotation of said mounting'relativeto said panel, and a further surfaceon said mounting which can coact with a complementary surface on saidfront-mounted fuseholder to prevent rotation of said forward portion ofsaid front-mounted fuseholder relative to said mounting.

15. A mounting and front-mounted fuseholder as claimed in claim 14wherein a wall is spaced rearwardly of said locking means, and whereinsaid wall limits movement of said forward portion of said frontmountedfuseholder rearwardly relative to said mountmg.

16. A mounting and front-mounted fuseholder as claimed in claim 14wherein a wall limits movement of said forward portion of saidfront-mounted fuseholder rearwardly relative to said mounting, andwherein said further surface is on said wall.

17. A mounting and a front-mounted fuseholder as claimed in claim 14wherein said locking means includes an inwardly-extending lip on saidgenerallyannular body portion.

18. A mounting and front-mounted fuseholder as claimed in claim 14wherein said resilient portion is a finger that is part of, but thatextends outwardly of, said generally-annular body portion, and whereinsaid generally-annular body portion has slots at each side of saidfinger.

19. A fuseholder which can be telescoped forwardly into an opening in apanel from a point rearwardly of said panel and that has a rear portionand a front portion, said front portion of said fuseholder beingdimensioned to be passed forwardly through said opening in a panel,means extending laterally outwardly of said fuseholder to engage a partof said panel, which helps define said opening in said panel, and tothereby limit the extent to which said front portion of said fuseholdercan be telescoped forwardly relative to said opening, spaced-apartelectric terminals mounted on said rear portion of said fuseholder, saidlaterally outwardly extending means on said fuseholder engaging saidpart of said panel while said spaced-apart electric terminals aredisposed rearwardly of said panel, and thereby keeping said spaced-apartelectric terminals rearwardly of said panel, resilient means that ismovable forwardly with said fuseholder as said front portion of saidfuseholder is telescoped into said opening in said panel, said resilientmeans being dimensioned to enter said opening in said panel as saidfront portion of said fuseholder is telescoped into position within saidopening in said panel, said resilient means permitting said frontportion of said fuseholder to be telescoped far enough forwardlyrelative to said opening in said panel to enable said laterallyoutwardly extending means on said fuseholder to engage said part of saidpanel and to scoped forwardly into said opening in said panel.

1. A mounting, which can accommodate a front-mounted fuseholder andwhich can be telescoped forwardly into an opening in a panel from apoint rearwardly of said panel, that comprises a generally-annular bodyportion which is dimensioned to accommodate the forward portion of saidfront-mounted fuseholder, locking means on said mounting which willpermit said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder to betelescoped rearwarldy into said generally-annular body portion from apoint forwardly of said mounting but which will thereafter resistseparation of said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder fromsaid generally-annular body portion, a resilient portion that isdisposable in register with a part of said panel which helps define saidopening, said resilient portion being bendable inwardly relative to saidopening to enable said resilient portion to pass into said opening, aflange that is disposable in register with a part of said panel whichhelps define said opening, said flange being disposable rearwardly ofsaid panel to limit movement of said mounting forwardly relative to saidpanel, a surface on said mounting which can coact with a complementarysurface on said panel to prevent rotation of said mounting relative tosaid panel, and a further surface on said mounting which can coact witha complementary surface on said front-mounted fuseholder to preventrotation of said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholderrelative to said mounting.
 2. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein awall is spaced rearwardly of said locking means, and wherein said walllimits movement of said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholderrearwardly relative to said mounting.
 3. A mounting as claimed in claim1 wherein a wall limits movement of said forward portion of saidfront-mounted fuseholder rearwardly relative to said mounting, wherebysaid locking means and said wall coact to prevent shifting of saidforward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder forwardly or rearwardlyrelative to said mounting.
 4. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein awall limits movement of said forward portion of said front-mountedfuseholder rearwardly relative to said mounting, and wherein saidfurther surface is on said wall.
 5. A mounting as claimed in claim 1wherein a wall has an opening therein to accommodate arearwardly-extending portion of said front-mounted fuseholder, andwherein said wall limits movement of said forward portion of saidfront-mounted fuseholder rearwardly relative to said mounting.
 6. Amounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generally-annular bodyportion is bendable to permit said locking means to move out of the pathof said forward portIon of said front-mounted fuseholder as said forwardportion of said front-mounted fuseholder is telescoped rearwardly intosaid generally-annular body portion from a point forwardly of saidmounting.
 7. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking meansincludes an inwardly-extending lip on said generally-annular bodyportion.
 8. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilientportion is a finger that is part of, but that extends outwardly of, saidgenerally-annular body portion.
 9. A mounting as claimed in claim 1wherein said resilient portion is a finger that is part of, but thatextends outwardly of, said generally-annular body portion, and whereinthe outer surface of said finger acts as an inclined plane while saidfinger is being passed into said opening.
 10. A mounting as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said resilient portion is a finger that is part of, butthat extends outwardly of, said generally-annular body portion, andwherein said generally-annular body portion has slots at each side ofsaid finger.
 11. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lockingmeans is adjacent the front of said generally-annular body portion,wherein said flange is adjacent the rear of said generally-annular bodyportion, and wherein said resilient portion is intermediate said lockingmeans and said flange.
 12. A mounting, for a fuseholder which has a rearportion of limited transverse dimension and a front portion of largertransverse dimension and which enables said front portion of saidfuseholder to be passed forwardly through an opening in a panel and tobe held securely in assembled relation with, but forwardly of, saidpanel, that comprises an essentially-annular body portion having agenerally-transverse wall with an opening therein dimensioned toaccommodate said rear portion of said fuseholder but to prevent thepassage therethrough of said front portion of said fuseholder, a surfacewhich is disposed forwardly of said generally-transverse wall and whichnormally lies in the path of said front portion of said fuseholder, saidsurface responding to pressures, which are applied to said fuseholder ina direction generally axially of said essentially-annular body portionand which tend to force said front portion of said fuseholder rearwardlypast said surface toward said generally-transverse wall, to permit saidfront portion of said fuseholder to move past said surface and intoengagement with said generally-transverse wall, said surface thereuponautomatically moving back into said path of said front portion of saidfuseholder to resist accidental separation of said fuseholder from saidessentially-annular body portion, said essentially-annular body havingan outer surface dimensioned to permit the front of saidessentially-annular body portion to be passed forwardly through saidopening in said panel but having an outwardly-extending projectionadjacent the rear thereof which extends outwardly beyond the peripheryof said opening in said panel to limit movement of saidessentially-annular body portion forwardly relative to said panel, and alocking means on said essentially-annular body portion which can bepassed forwardly through said opening in said panel but which willthereafter resist movement thereof and of said front portion of saidessentially-annular body portion rearwardly through said opening in saidpanel, said fuseholder being inserted into said essentially-annular bodyportion by being telescoped through said front portion of saidessentially-annular body portion but said front portion of saidessentially-annular body portion and said front portion of saidfuseholder being insertable through said opening in said panel by beingtelescoped forwardly through said opening in said panel from a pointrearwardly of said panel.
 13. A mounting as claimed in claim 12 whereinsaid surface is an inwardly-extending lip, and wherein saidessentially-annular body portion is bendable to permit said lip to moveout of the path of said froNt portion of said fuseholder.
 14. A mountingwhich can be telescoped forwardly into an opening in a panel from apoint rearwardly of said panel and a front-mounted fuseholder which hasa forward portion and a rear portion, said mounting having agenerally-annular body portion and said forward portion of saidfront-mounted fuseholder being disposed within and held by saidgenerally-annular body portion, locking means on said mounting which wasmoved to permit said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder tobe telescoped rearwardly into said generally-annular body portion from apoint forwardly of said mounting but which resists separation of saidforward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder from saidgenerally-annular body portion, a resilient portion of said mountingthat is disposable in register with a part of said panel which helpsdefine said opening, said resilient portion being bendable inwardlyrelative to said opening to enable said resilient portion to pass intosaid opening, a flange on said mounting that is disposable in registerwith a part of said panel which helps define said opening, said flangebeing disposable rearwardly of said panel to limit movement of saidmounting forwardly relative to said panel, a surface on said mountingwhich can coact with a complementary surface on said panel to preventrotation of said mounting relative to said panel, and a further surfaceon said mounting which can coact with a complementary surface on saidfront-mounted fuseholder to prevent rotation of said forward portion ofsaid front-mounted fuseholder relative to said mounting.
 15. A mountingand front-mounted fuseholder as claimed in claim 14 wherein a wall isspaced rearwardly of said locking means, and wherein said wall limitsmovement of said forward portion of said front-mounted fuseholderrearwardly relative to said mounting.
 16. A mounting and front-mountedfuseholder as claimed in claim 14 wherein a wall limits movement of saidforward portion of said front-mounted fuseholder rearwardly relative tosaid mounting, and wherein said further surface is on said wall.
 17. Amounting and a front-mounted fuseholder as claimed in claim 14 whereinsaid locking means includes an inwardly-extending lip on saidgenerally-annular body portion.
 18. A mounting and front-mountedfuseholder as claimed in claim 14 wherein said resilient portion is afinger that is part of, but that extends outwardly of, saidgenerally-annular body portion, and wherein said generally-annular bodyportion has slots at each side of said finger.
 19. A fuseholder whichcan be telescoped forwardly into an opening in a panel from a pointrearwardly of said panel and that has a rear portion and a frontportion, said front portion of said fuseholder being dimensioned to bepassed forwardly through said opening in a panel, means extendinglaterally outwardly of said fuseholder to engage a part of said panel,which helps define said opening in said panel, and to thereby limit theextent to which said front portion of said fuseholder can be telescopedforwardly relative to said opening, spaced-apart electric terminalsmounted on said rear portion of said fuseholder, said laterallyoutwardly extending means on said fuseholder engaging said part of saidpanel while said spaced-apart electric terminals are disposed rearwardlyof said panel, and thereby keeping said spaced-apart electric terminalsrearwardly of said panel, resilient means that is movable forwardly withsaid fuseholder as said front portion of said fuseholder is telescopedinto said opening in said panel, said resilient means being dimensionedto enter said opening in said panel as said front portion of saidfuseholder is telescoped into position within said opening in saidpanel, said resilient means permitting said front portion of saidfuseholder to be telescoped far enough forwardly relative to saidopening in said panel to enable said laterally outwardly extending meanson said fuseholder to engage said part of saId panel and to therebylimit the extent to which said front portion of said fuseholder can betelescoped forwardly relative to said opening, said resilient meansthereafter preventing accidental movement of said front portion of saidfuseholder rearwardly relative to said opening in said panel, andcomplementary interacting surface means that prevent rotation of saidfuseholder relative to said panel after said front portion of saidfuseholder has been telescoped forwardly into said opening in saidpanel.